Swimming pool cover and submergible dressing room combination

ABSTRACT

THE PRESENT INVENTION PRESENTS AN ELEVATABLE, PREFERABLY RIGID, SWIMMING POOL COVER AND, PREFERABLY COMBINATION THEREWITH, A SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE. THE COVER IS DESIGNED TO OFFER SHADE TO THE POOL AREA AS WELL AS PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION AGAINST ACCIDENTS WHEN THE POOL IS NOT IN USE. THE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE PROVIDED AND COOPERATIVELY MOUNTED TO THE COVER STRUCTURE AFFORDS A CONVENIENT CHANGE ENCLOSURE AT THE POOL AREA AND, ADDITIONALLY, PERMITS THE DRESSING ROOM STRUCTURE TO BE SUBMERGED IN THE POOL WHEN THE POOL IS NOT IN   USE. THIS AVOIDS THE NECESSITY OF PERMANENT STRUCTURES ERECTED SEPARATE FROM THE POOL.

R0 MELL PETERSON EI'AL 3,566,420

March 2, 1971 SWIMMING POOL COVER AND SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOMCOMBINATION Filed Aug. 26, 1968 m mm W \J 85/ R RR E N EE N F. TIT R VEE 0 N PP T I S. M Y 6 E0 H MR W OE RL United States Patent 3,566,420SWIMMING POOL COVER AND SUBMERGIBLE DRESSING ROOM COMBINATION Ro MellPeterson and Le Roy S. Peterson, both of 875 S. Redwood Road, Salt LakeCity, Utah 84104 Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,044 Int. Cl. E04h3/18 US. Cl. 4-172-11 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The presentinvention presents an elevatable, preferably rigid, swimming pool coverand, preferably in combination therewith, a submergible dressing roomstructure. The cover is designed to offer shade to the pool area as wellas provide substantial protection against accidents when the pool is notin use. The dressing room structure provided and cooperatively mountedto the cover structure affords a convenient change enclosure at the poolarea and, additionally, permits the dressing room structure to besubmerged in the pool when the pool is not in use. This avoids thenecessity of permanent structures erected separate from the pool.

The present invention presents a novel cover for swimming pools and,more particularly, to a cover structure which can be elevated or loweredas desired over the pool area, provides shade therefor, offersprotection for small children when the cover is closed over the pool,and optionally and preferably includes a dressing room structure whichis submergible within the pool when the pool is not in use.

In the past'the swimming pool cover that has been commercially developedis a roll-type cover which, of necessity, must be flexible in order topermit the rolling withdrawal thereof at one end of the pool. Suchcovers, while admitting of complete unobstruction of the pool when thecovers are withdrawn, are nonetheless believed to be deficient incertain respects. Among these deficiencies is the fact that the cover,in having to be flexible by its nature, is easily punctured and, whenpunctured or slit is not safe for children. Children will play on suchcovers and jump up and down on them. This is not safe for them since thecovers oftentimes are easily punctured by play of this type.

An additional problem presented in connection with conventional swimmingpool covers is that separate dressing room structures must beconstructed either proximate the swimming pool area or, for residenceshaving no such dressing room accommodation, children must come directlyinto the home for dressing with wet bathing suits and wet towels. Thisincreases house work in the residence in keeping areas used by childrenclean and tidy.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved cover for swimming pools.

A further object is to provide a swimming pool cover which is capable ofelevation above and lowering upon the deck area of the pool.

An additional object is to provide a new and improved swimming poolcover which is rigid in construction.

A further object is to provide a swimming pool cover which may be liftedby fluid pressure as by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

An additional object is to provide a swimming pool cover for offeringshade to a swimming pool area.

An additional object is to provide in a swimming pool construction asubmergible dressing room structure, this so that when the cover iselevated above the pool the dressing room structure is elevated abovethe water level 'ice.

and is available for use, having, by its unique structure, beenpermitted to drain dry; when the pool is no longer in use, then thecover may be lowered and the dressing room submerged out of the waywithin the pool area.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming pool incor porating the coverand submergible dressing room structure of the present invention; inFIG. 1 the cover is elevated with its dressing room structure, thelatter being for use by users of the dressing room structure and of thepool.

FIG. 2 is an elevation, principally in transverse section, of theswimming pool of FIG. 1 wherein the cover has been lowered and thedressing room structure submerged within the deep end of the pool.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a fluid pressure system which can be usedto elevate and lower, alternatively,

' the structure which supports the swimming pool cover above the poolarea.

In FIG. 1 swimming pool 10 is shown to include a swimming poolencasement 11 provided with deck 12 and having shallow portion 13 anddeep portion 14. Disposed at the four corners of the pool are fourcylinders 15, each having a lower end 16 and a flanged bushing 17 whichthreadedly engages at 18 the upper end 19 of the respective cylinders15. Disposed within each of the cylinders is a piston rod 20 providedwith annular grooves 21 accommodating respective O-rings 22. O-rings 22serve as a seal against fluid pressure as may exist in cavity C.Respective valves 23 are interposed in respective lines 24, and thelatter are interposed between reservoir 25 and the respective cylinders15 as indicated. Correspondingly, respective valves 26 are interposed inrespective lines 27 which lead from pump 28 to respective cylinders 15,in a manner indicated in FIG. 3. All of the valves 23 may be gangedtogether, as indicated by dotted line 29, so as to be actuated by asingle handle 30. Correspondingly, all of the valves 26 may be gangedtogether, as indicated by dotted line 31, so as to be actuated by asingle handle 32. Line 33 interconnects reservoir 25 to the input sideof 28. Line 34 interconnects the output of all of the valves 23 to theinput side of reservoir 25. Line 35 is a pressure line leading from pump28 to the input side of all of the valves 26. Valves 23 and 26 may be ofthe selectively operable, one-way type, as desired.

In returning again to FIG. 1, it is seen that cover 35 is preferably arigid, convexly shaped cover having top 36 and ends 37 and 38 continuoustherewith. The cover 35 may be made of fiber glass or other desiredmaterial. It can be constructed to be translucent or opaque, as desired.Supporting cover 35 are a plurality of arcuate ribs 39 to which theformer may !be secured as by suitable adhesive 40 or by conventionalattachments such as rivets. The lower opposite ends of arcuate ribs 39are secured by conventional means such as rivets to elongate stringers41, and end angles 42 and 43 may be welded to the opposite stringers 41to complete the structure. The upper ends of piston rods 20 are securedby gusset brackets G to the cover framing.

Of special importance is the provision of a dressing enclosure 44. Thesame may be made of metal, or have a metal framework and suitable panelstructure, such that the same may be easily secured by attachments 45 toangle braces 46 spanning the opposite, mutually-parallel, elongatestringers 41. It will be noted that the bottom 47 of enclosure structure44 includes a series of holes or apertures 48, and may comprise a grate.The enclosure may include door 49 which is hinged at 50 and 51 to theremainder of the structure and for the convenience of bathers.

In operation it is seen that at rest position the dressing roomstructure 44 is submerged into the deep portion 14 of the pool area.Furthermore, the cover 35 is completely withdrawn so as to rest upon orbe closely proximate the deck 12 of swimming pool encasement 11. Holes48 provide for the flow of water in the pool so that the dressing roomenclosure 44 can be submerged, as desired, within the pool area.

When the users desire availability of the pool, then pump 28 is turnedon by conventional means and valves 26 are opened by control 32. Valves23 will be closed, or be of one-way type, so as to prevent the flowoutwardly of fluid from chamber C.

Accordingly, pressured fluid, in being introduced by pump 28 intorespective chamber C of cylinders 15, will exert an upper pressureagainst the lower end of each piston rods 20 so as to cause an elevationof these piston rods and an elevation, hence, of cover 35. The ascent ofcover 35 under the pressure of pump 28 is, of course, accompaned by theprogressive ascent of dressing room structure 44 from the pool. Holes 48permit a draining out of water from the dressing room areas so that whenthe dressing room structure is completely withdrawn, it will be devoidof water therein. For certain types of materials such as metals, fiberglass, and so forth, it requires a very short time for the interior ofthe dressing room area to be completely dry. Where desired, seat areassuch as at 44 in FIG. 2 may be provided for the convenience of thebather. Thus, when the interior of the dressing room area issufiiciently dry, the bather will open the same for donning his swimmingapparel. The structure enables the apparel simply to be retained in thedressing room area if the individual so elects. When bathers arefinished using the pool, they simply return to the dressing-roomstructure 44 to re-dress into their street clothes, and when steppingout of the area will remove their towels and swimming suits.Accordingly, the cover is then ready for return of placement so as tocompletely cover the pool area and thus avoid accidents as regardscustomary dangers as to small children. By descent of the cover 35, thedressing room enclosure 44 will be returned to total or partialsubmergence within the pool area as indicated in FIG. 2. Return of thecover to its rest position, indicated in FIG. 2, is accomplished by theactuation of handle 30 to ganged valves 33 so as to open these valvesand thereby permit the hydraulic fluid to be returned to reservoir 35.During this process, of course, the valves 26 will be closed either byhandle 31, or will comprise simply one-way valves to prevent valve flowautomatically. The same type of structure, so far as one-way function,may be used in connection with the design of valves 23. This is allconventional.

It will be understood that the invention comprehends all methods andmeans by which cover 35 is raised and lowered over the swimming pool.Thus, the hydraulic cylinders, if used, may be independently fed byrespective pumps. Or a simple hand crank, wrench, and/or pulleyarrangement may be used in lieu of the hydraulic means to raise andlower the cover structure over the swimming pool. Finally, the covermeans 35 might even be hinged or pivoted to the pool structure, with itsend being raised or lowered relative to the pool structure. Whatevertype of cover and raising structure is employed, the present inventioncontemplates the use of the dressing-room structure depending from thecover structure, with the dressing-room structure being submergible inthe swimming pool upon the lowering of the cover structure.

Accordingly, what is provided is a new and improved swimming pool coverand submergible dressing room combination which is easy and safe to use,avoids necessitating the erection of permanent dressing-r0om structures,and further, which renders the pool area a completely safe area when thedressing room is submerged within the pool and the cover returned to itsrest position as indicated in FIG. 2.

It will be understood that the invention also comprehends structurewherein the cover is, for example, of perforate form which may bedisposed above, at, or slightly beneath the surface of the water of thepool, this for safety purposes.

We claim:

1. The combination of a swimming pool, cover means for providing shadewhen the same is raised above said swimming pool and for providing aprotective closure when the same is lowered to the top of said swimmingpool, and means independent of the water content of said swimming poolfor so selectively raising and lowering said cover means with respect tosaid swimming pool, and wherein said cover means includes rigidstructural means, said combination including dressing-room enclosuremeans depending from said rigid structural means and including aperturemeans for enabling the passage of water of said swimming pool into andout of said dressing-room enclosure means when the latter is submergedin said swimming pool.

2. The combination of a swimming pool, cover means for providing shadewhen the same is raised above said swimming pool and for providing aprotective closure when the same is lowered to the top of said swimmingpool, and means independent of the water content of said swimming poolfor so selectively raising and lowering said cover means with respect tosaid swimming pool, and wherein said cover means includes dressing roomenclosure structure, said raising and lowering means comprising meansfor raising and lowering said cover structure relative to said swimmingpool, and means for suspending said dressing-room enclosure structurefrom said cover structure for selective submergence into said swimmingpool.

3. In combination, a swimming pool, cover means, dressing-room enclosurestructure depending from said cover means and provided with ingress andegress means and aperture means for permitting the passage of water ofsaid swimming pool into and out of said dressing-room enclosurestructure, and means for selectively lowering and raising said covermeans and simultaneously sub merging and withdrawing from submergencesaid dressing-room enclosure structure relative to said swimming pool,said swimmingpool and enclosure structure being constructed and arrangedsuch that said swimming pool provides an unobstructed swimming area whensaid enclosure structure is raised from submergence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,190 10/1897 Bond 501003,008,435 11/1961 Dupuy 1091 3,052,893 9/1962 McClure 4172.l3 3,092,8446/1963 Brunson 4172.l3 3,212,105 10/1965 Baker et a1. 41 3,413,66112/1968 Ross 4172.l3 3,443,265 5/1969 Hanck 4-l72.l2

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner U.S.Cl. X.R. 4172.l2

